Opinion
By Representative Jay Kilmartin
South Carolina’s roads, bridges, and infrastructure are in crisis. Anyone who has driven across our state in recent years knows it firsthand: crumbling asphalt, endless potholes, and bridges that should have been replaced decades ago. We are long past the point of patchwork fixes. If South Carolina wants to meet the demands of a growing population and a thriving economy, we need real reform in how we build and maintain our infrastructure. That means accountability, efficiency, and smart use of our resources.
Right now, the way our state handles infrastructure is broken. We spend billions, yet drivers see little improvement in their counties. The truth is, the problems are less about money and more about structure. South Carolina doesn’t suffer from a lack of resources—we suffer from a lack of accountability.
1. Make the Lieutenant Governor Accountable and Empowered
The first reform should be straightforward: tie infrastructure directly to an elected office. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is currently overseen by appointees and boards that are far removed from the voters. That means when projects stall, funds are mismanaged, or priorities get misplaced, no one is held accountable.
One way to fix this is by making the lieutenant governor a statewide, elected position again—and putting that office in charge of the DOT. This would give the people of South Carolina a direct line of accountability. If roads are not being maintained, voters would know exactly who to hold responsible at the ballot box. No more finger-pointing between boards, commissions, and agencies. Leadership would be clear, and responsibility would rest where it belongs: with someone chosen by the people.
2. Return Roads to the Counties
South Carolina has one of the largest state-owned road systems in the entire country. That might sound impressive, but in practice it’s a disaster. When the state controls so many roads, decision-making becomes distant and inefficient. Local communities are forced to wait in line while Columbia decides where and when to send crews.
The solution is simple: give counties back control of their roads and the funding that goes with them. Local governments are far better positioned to understand which roads need attention and when. They are closer to the people and can be more responsive. This shift would also create greater transparency. When decisions are made at the county level, citizens can more easily attend meetings, question leaders, and push for action. A road in Greenville shouldn’t have to compete with a road in Beaufort for attention from a state office hundreds of miles away. By decentralizing control, we bring accountability closer to the ground—literally.
3. Use Surplus Revenue for Infrastructure—Not Pet Projects
This year, South Carolina is projecting nearly $800 million in revenue above budgeted expectations. In Columbia, there will be a long line of politicians eager to direct that money toward their favorite pet projects. That is exactly how government grows bloated, unfocused, and wasteful.
Instead, every single dollar of that surplus should go directly to infrastructure. Not half. Not most of it. All of it. This is the kind of bold move that could make a visible difference in just a few years. Imagine the impact if, instead of scattering hundreds of millions across pork-barrel projects, we put the full weight of that windfall into repairing and upgrading our roadways. That is the kind of investment South Carolina needs and taxpayers deserve.
4. Eliminate the State Infrastructure Bank
Finally, it’s time to close the chapter on the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB). Created in 1997 to help fund major projects like the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, the SIB served its original purpose. But like so many government programs, it never went away. Instead, it became another layer of bureaucracy that diverts money away from the DOT.
The problem with the SIB is not only inefficiency but inequity. Too often, funds flow toward large, high-profile projects while smaller, everyday infrastructure needs are left unfunded. Eliminating the SIB would ensure that infrastructure money goes directly where it belongs: into the DOT, for the benefit of all South Carolinians.
The Path Forward
South Carolina is growing fast. Our population is booming, our economy is expanding, and our ports, interstates, and local roads are carrying more traffic than ever before. But if we don’t act, our infrastructure will remain a bottleneck that chokes growth and endangers public safety.
The reforms are clear: put an elected official in charge of the DOT, shrink the state road system by returning roads to the counties, dedicate surplus revenue to infrastructure, and eliminate outdated bureaucracies like the State Infrastructure Bank. None of these ideas require new taxes. What they require is leadership and the courage to do things differently.
South Carolinians deserve safe roads, efficient highways, and reliable bridges. But more than that, they deserve a government that works as hard as they do, spends money wisely, and takes responsibility when things go wrong. For too long, we’ve accepted excuses and half-measures. It’s time to demand accountability and reform. South Carolina can do better.
